Changes

'''Classical liberalism''' (also called '''laissez-faire liberalism''') is a term used to describe the following:

'''Classical liberalism''' (also called '''laissez-faire liberalism''') is a term used to describe the following:

* the philosophy developed by early liberals from the Enlightenment until [[John Stuart Mill]]

* the philosophy developed by early liberals from the [[Enlightenment]] until [[John Stuart Mill]]

* the philosophy developed by early liberals from the Age of Enlightenment until John Stuart Mill and revived in the 20th century by [[Friedrich Hayek]] and [[Milton Friedman]]. The contemporary restatement of classical liberalism is sometimes called "new liberalism" or "neo-liberalism"  

* the philosophy developed by early liberals from the Age of Enlightenment until John Stuart Mill and revived in the 20th century by [[Friedrich Hayek]] and [[Milton Friedman]]. The contemporary restatement of classical liberalism is sometimes called "new liberalism" or "neo-liberalism"  

Classical liberalism is a political philosophy that supports individual rights as pre-existing the state, a government that exists to protect those moral rights, ensured by a constitution that protects individual autonomy from other individuals and governmental power, private property, and a laissez-faire economic policy. The "normative core" of classical liberalism is the idea that in an environment of laissez-faire, a spontaneous order of cooperation in exchanging goods and services emerges that satisfies human wants.  

Classical liberalism is a political philosophy that supports [[individual rights]] as pre-existing the state, a government that exists to protect those moral rights, ensured by a [[constitution]] that protects individual autonomy from other individuals and governmental power, private property, and a [[laissez-faire]] economic policy. The "normative core" of classical liberalism is the idea that in an environment of laissez-faire, a spontaneous order of cooperation in exchanging goods and services emerges that satisfies human wants.  

==Change in meaning==

==Change in meaning==

The term "liberal" changed meaning in the 1930s.  Since then Classical Liberals are called "Conservatives" or "Libertarians" in the United States; in the rest of the world, especially Europe and Japan, classical liberals are still called liberals.

The term "liberal" changed meaning in the 1930s.  Since then Classical Liberals are called "Conservatives" or "Libertarians" in the United States; in the rest of the world, especially Europe and Japan, classical liberals are still called liberals.

==History==

==History==

It is a blend of political liberalism and economic liberalism which is derived from Enlightenment thinkers such as as [[Thomas Hobbes]], [[John Locke]], [[Adam Smith]], [[Voltaire]], [[John Stuart Mill]], and [[Immanuel Kant]].

It is a blend of [[political liberalism]] and [[economic liberalism]] which is derived from Enlightenment thinkers such as as [[Thomas Hobbes]], [[John Locke]], [[Adam Smith]], [[Voltaire]], [[John Stuart Mill]], and [[Immanuel Kant]].

Many elements of this ideology developed in the 17th and 18th centuries, and it is often seen as being the natural ideology of the industrial revolution and its subsequent capitalist system. The early liberal figures now described as "classical liberals" rejected many foundational assumptions which dominated most earlier theories of government, such as the [[Divine Right of Kings]], hereditary status, and established religion, and focuses on individual freedom, reason, justice and tolerance. Such thinkers and their ideas helped to inspire the American Revolution and French Revolution.

Many elements of this ideology developed in the 17th and 18th centuries, and it is often seen as being the natural ideology of the industrial revolution and its subsequent capitalist system. The early liberal figures now described as "classical liberals" rejected many foundational assumptions which dominated most earlier theories of government, such as the [[Divine Right of Kings]], hereditary status, and established religion, and focuses on individual freedom, reason, justice and tolerance. Such thinkers and their ideas helped to inspire the American Revolution and French Revolution.